Jeanne Jakle: Emmys prompt a few awards of our own

Published 12:00 am, Sunday, July 11, 2010

In honor of the recent Emmy nominations, I'm presenting San Antonio's own batch of awards — both honoring and (sorry!) dishonoring those who inform and entertain us.

Ayes of Texas Award. "Friday Night Lights" fans here, including yours truly, couldn't be happier over Emmy's first-time recognition of the main duo of the Texas football drama, which is filmed near Austin. After four seasons on the air, two of TV's strongest performers finally got deserved nods for best actor and actress in a drama: Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, who never stop eliciting awe for their very real and moving turns as Coach Eric Taylor and, his wife, Tami.

Too Casual Award. To KABB's women from a viewer who thinks some of the Fox affiliate's anchors and reporters look underdressed — snug knit tops and short skirts — in garb more appropriate "for a picnic" than TV news. (To be fair, however, KABB does target a younger, less formal audience. Checking out its news shows the other day, I also saw nothing wrong with the women's attire.)

Hot Guys Award. A couple of viewers noted that the dress code should loosen some when it comes to anchorman apparel. In the words of one: "My issue is with the overdressed men in their suits and ties. When is that going to get updated? This is hot, humid S.A., and it seems that men's fashions haven't progressed in 200 years." (Yet when WOAI's morning forecaster David Mazza started going tie-less for casual Fridays, one viewer seethed.)

Veronica Lake Award. After I wrote about the longer hair trend of San Antonio's anchorwomen, the dark mane of KSAT's Ursula Pari netted the most response. Several gave her glossy glamour tresses a thumbs-up, while many deemed her do unprofessional. Pro-and-con e-mailers agreed on one Pari point: She should keep it off her pretty face. One comment even conjured up screen star Lake's old peek-a-boo style: "It is very distracting," a viewer wrote, "because she pulls a big chunk over one eye trying to look sexy."

Less is More Award. To KENS' Deborah Knapp and WOAI's Elsa Ramon from e-mailers who find them "chic" and "professional" and "appropriately mature" with their shorter hairstyles and for not, as e-mailer Mary Ann Black put it, being "stuck in the high school ëRapunzel' mode."

Blowing in the Wind Award. Though viewer Janette Jackson believes KENS weekend anchor Karen Grace "is still young enough to get by with (long hair) in the studio . . . does she realize how silly she looks when she is out doing shots and her hair is blowing all over creation?"

Good Humor-less Man Award. To judge Piers Morgan of "America's Got Talent" from an S.A. viewer who is sick of him saying, "I don't get it," when a contestant rolls out a funny routine like that sad-sack magician with bad tricks. "I wish he would follow the lead of Howie Mandel and recognize a comic when he sees one," the female caller fumed.

Best Man Behind the Woman Award. You know what they say about "Behind every great man . . ." Well, S.A.'s David Mathews was the tireless guy behind Betty White getting that celebrated hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live." And now she has an Emmy nod for it. Should she win on Aug. 29, here's hoping Mathews — or at least his famed Facebook page — gets a much deserved thank you.

Jeanne Jakle's column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in S.A. Life, and she blogs at Jakle's Jacuzzi on mySA.com. E-mail her at jjakle@express-news.net.